STRATEGY 7: WORK YOUR DREAM

Ok, now you have announced your dream! Some people were supportive and said something like, “Well, if anyone can, you will!” Others may have offered, “Sure you will—when pigs fly!” And then there are those who want to believe you and say, “Great! When you figure out how to do that, you can teach me!” To which I hope you confidently responded, “I will—for a price!” Hey, you spend time, money, and effort in making your dream come true, so there is no shame in selling your knowledge of the experience. After all, the knowledge you have to offer will make it easier for someone else. Forgive me. My entrepreneur side is surfacing. Yes, I am a struggling entrepreneur who is determined to become an Internet millionaire!

We all know that a true dream does not come true by closing our eyes and rubbing a magic lamp. If it could, we would have more than we need and all we think we want. I live by the saying that “if it is worth having, it is worth working for.” Praying may help, but God is not a magic genie either. My mother used to tell me, “God helps those who help themselves.” I believe if I am faithful to my dream and do whatever it takes to make it come true, God will guide my journey. That is not saying it will come easy or will happen according to my plan, but it will happen in one form or another. Oops, my preacher side is showing. Yes, I have been known to write and give sermons—my personal favorite is Jesus on the Yellow Brick Road.

Now that you have announced your dream to friends and family, you need to turn your time and energy into your success plan. Use the encouragement you received to motivate you. If you received discouragement, use that to motivate you. How? Well, all anyone has to do is tell me “NO” or “YOU CAN’T.” I take that as a challenge. My mindset becomes “JUST WATCH ME. I NOT ONLY CAN, I WILL!” Oh no. Now I am giving my speech as a pageant contestant the night I was crowned Ms. San Diego Wheelchair Queen. My message was I CAN DO IT AND SO CAN YOU!

Have you created the steps to your dream mentioned in Strategy 3? If so, go back and look at your “dream step” plan. Have you completed any of the steps? If you have, congratulations! Go treat yourself to something you have been wanting—you deserve it! If not, there is no time like the present—if you have the time to read this, you have the time to work on your dream. The first step is the hardest—ask any child learning to walk. But have you ever seen a child after taking that first step? There’s no stopping him! That is how it is going to be once you commit to doing that first step. Remember, after completing that first step and each of the following steps, treat yourself to something special. When you feel good about yourself and what you are doing, it motivates you to continue going further. This is your dream and you need to do whatever it takes to maintain your focus.

Commit to the work and your dream will become your reality!!!!!



Linda Thompson, MSRC, has 30 years professional experience serving people with disabilities as instructor and advocate. As a keynote speaker, she addresses audiences of parents, professionals, care providers, students, congregations, and business administrators/employers on the importance of recognizing the individual and abilities rather than the “labels” of disabilities. “People with disabilities are people first. Our disabilities are second.”
www.empoweringusall.com